The Number of Democrats Boycotting Trump’s Inauguration Just Grew to Over 40

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 21: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives two thumbs up to the crowd during the evening session on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received the number of votes needed to secure the party's nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Cleveland, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Republican National Convention kicked off on July 18. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Getty Images

The number jumped to 42 after Trump publicly criticized civil rights icon John Lewis, a congressman in Georgia and civil rights icon. On Saturday, Trump tweeted that Lewis was “all talk, talk, talk” and should focus on his “crime-infested” district. Trump made the comments after Lewis said on NBC’s Meet the Press that he didn’t see Trump as a legitimate president due to the election’s Russian hacking scandal and wouldn’t be attending the inauguration.

Several lawmakers rushed to Lewis’ defense. "This president 'semi-elect' does not deserve to be president of the United States," congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) said in a statement on his website. "He has not exhibited the characteristics or the values that we hold dear. That Dr. (Martin Luther) King held dear. That John Lewis holds dear. And when he questioned the integrity of my friend, colleague, and civil rights icon John Lewis, that crossed the Rubicon."

Others announced they wouldn’t be attending the inauguration and defended Lewis on Twitter: